Chapter 2 Two

/-Sophia-/

"Alpha..." I stepped forward.

"Step back," he growled and I staggered backwards, tears pouring down my cheeks.

A lot of thoughts ran through my mind. Why was he being harsh towards me? We were mates.

Couldn't he feel the bond?

"Levi, please don't..."

"Address me by my name one more time, and I will slit your throat," he growled, and I shivered.

"Forgive me, Alpha," I apologized. "But I'm not lying. We are mates..."

"I know that," he hissed. "But I refuse to be mated to a weak wolfless outcast. The Gray Moon Pack needs someone strong, not a pathetic pushover."

The words pierced through my heart like a double-edged sword. Why would he say something like that to me?

"Please..."

"I, Levi Colton, reject you..." he looked at me in askance. My heart broke all over again. He didn't even know my name.

"Sophia... Sophia Everest...." I sniffled.

"I, Levi Colton, reject you, Sophia Everest, as my mate," he said, and a scream ripped through my throat with my knees dropping to the floor.

It felt like I was going crazy from the pain. Tears poured down my cheeks in torrents as I clutched to my chest.

He walked away from me like he felt nothing. Like my pain was just another annoying occurrence.

My heart was heavy, this wasn't how I envisioned this day to go.

The place blew up with laughter and I couldn't raise my head.

"I must commend you for making this night memorable," Lucy mocked. "First, you couldn't get a wolf and now, your mate rejected you. What more do you have for us tonight?"

Their mocking laughter echoed in my head as I picked myself from the floor and scurried away.

"Sophia!" I heard Joel call after me but I didn't dare stop. The pain in my chest was just too much to bear.

I returned to my room and shut the door. I fell on my small bed and burst into tears. I desperately needed something to dull the ache in my heart but nothing could console me.

All my hopes were dashed in one day and now, I was forced to live with the humiliation.

Taking my life was more tempting than ever. All my life, I had been treated like trash, and this was my one shot at bettering my life, only for it to be ruined again.

How was I supposed to leave with this?

These people will never let me hear the end of it. Lucy would never let me hear the end of it.

The tears continued pouring until there was nothing left in my eyes.

I was weak and tired.

You will be fine, Sophia.

She was just as sad as I was but she knew nothing about the pain I was going through.

If she did, she would have known that nothing would get better. Things will only get worse and I will never be fine.

I ended up crying myself to sleep because that was the only thing I could do.

The next day, I couldn't even bring myself to leave my room. I knew what was waiting out there for me and frankly, I would rather not face the jest.

Unfortunately, staying in my room was no option either because soon there was banging on the door.

"Sophia!" My mistress hissed. "Do you now need me to remind you of your chores every morning?"

I groaned and turned over.

"Be useful for once in your goddamn life, would you!" She barked, banging hard against the door and I knew I couldn't stay in bed any longer or she would break down the door.

Which I would have to pay for because no one took the words of a mere slave over the pack members.

I tried to act like it didn't hurt and opened the door only to receive a hot slap across the face.

"How dare you keep me banging outside your door? Have you lost your manners?" She bawled angrily and I palmed my cheeks.

"I'm sorry," I apologized and she stormed away from me in annoyance.

"Don't just stand there! Get your sorry self downstairs this minute!" She snapped and I scurried down.

The stares that followed me made me want to sink into the ground and never show up again but what could I do? It was impossible to do that.

They didn't even bother to spare me a little shame. They pointed at me and gossiped at the top of their voices so I could hear them and feel horrible.

"Isn't that the girl that couldn't get her wolf?"

"You mean the worthless outcast that got rejected by the Alpha?"

"I don't understand why the moon goddess would make such a terrible mistake, to be honest."

"When I saw that silver hair, it was freak alert!"

They succeeded because the words felt like additional stabs to my already wounded heart.

I descended the stairs, avoiding as many eyes as I could. I headed to the kitchen and took out the dishes.

Even the other maids who were better than me, made fun of me. It was just amusing to everyone that I couldn't get a wolf and still got rejected on the same night.

I wish it was that funny to me.

"Have you heard?" I heard a whisper.

I was certain it was going to be about me since it was convenient for people to gossip in my face.

"The Alpha will be introducing his new Luna tonight," she continued and my whole body stiffened.

"You are such a gossip! Where did you hear this fake news?" The other maid rebuffed.

"It is not fake! I heard the Alpha discussing with his Beta while I was cleaning the hallways," she defended.

The plate dropped from my hand into the sink and the noise startled them. They looked at me but before I could say a word, they burst into laughter.

"Look at her face!"

"Poor thing thought she was going to be the future Luna!"

My heart clenched.

The goddess knew I had never for once imagined myself as Luna. I just needed a man that would love me for me. A mate that would treat me like a human being.

Someone like Joel.

But I guess the goddess thought it would be better to make a joke of me.

I fought back the tears and turned to continue the dishes.

Who cares if he found another Luna? He already rejected me, didn't he?

But deep down, I knew I cared.

A little too much if I may add.

I could only hope that the maid was bluffing but she wasn't.

Later that day, Alpha Levi summoned a meeting for all the pack members. Everyone was looking at me funny as I joined them.

"This meeting is for pack members, weirdo," someone hissed.

"Since when did the outcast become a pack member?"

There were chuckles but I kept my face to the ground, avoiding their stares and struggling to keep my head together.

"I'm sorry for making you all gather here on such short notice," The Alpha started. "But the Luna ceremony is around the corner and it is only right that I introduce your future Luna to you."

There were cheers along with a few mumbles.

My heart was drumming against my chest. Some part of my stupid head hoped that he would turn around and introduce me as his Luna.

Yes, that was how delusional I was.

"Permit me to introduce to you the Future Luna of the Gray Moon Pack, Lucy Hart..."

Cheers erupted as I staggered back in shock.

Lucy?

Of all the women he could choose from, it had to be the one who made my life miserable.

She descended the stairs with such grace that one would never believe she was a bully.

She moved to his side and they locked arms. My chest tightened as I focused on their interlocked hands.

"She is beautiful, cultured and strong enough to lead our pack to greater heights," Levi said and the crowd cheered in agreement.

I didn't realize I was crying until the tears rolled down my cheeks.

This couldn't be happening.

Just as I looked up, his cold dark eyes connected with mine. Without wasting a second, I turned on my heels and ran.